Shank stiffener for shoes



Sept 8,- 1936. -c;. H. BROWN ET AL 2,053,420

SHANK STIFFENER FOR SHOES Filed Nov. 13, 1935 7 ATTORNEY Patented Sept.8, 1936 STATES Niel Charles H. Brown and Charles B. Brown, Flushing, N.Y.

Application November 13, 1933, Serial No. 697,752

3 Claims.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are:To maintain the approximate level of the arch section of the shoe inconformity with the variable heights of the usual heel of the shoe; toincrease the wear surface of the usual sole of the shoe; to provide asupporting structure for the arch or shank section of the shoe; to avoidstretching the arch or instep of the foot; to secure the flexing of theshoe in conformity with the metatarsal arch of the foot of the wearer,to avoid wear by the metal element of the shank stiffener upon the shoestructure; and to insure the line of junction of the raised arch sectionof the innersole and the horizontal forepart of the innersole being incorrespondence with the lateral tread of the ball of the foot.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view looking at the bottom of a shoe constructed andarranged in accordance with the present invention with the sole removed.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, the shoe being cut awayin part and the wearing sole and heel being indicated by dot and dashlines.

Figure 3 is a detailed view in section and on enlarged scale of thesupporting structure referred to and shank stiffening construction shownin conjunction therewith, the section being taken on the line 3-3 inFigure 4.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one form of the shank stiffeningconstruction.

Figure 5 is an end View of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse section of the shank stiffening structure, thesection being taken on the line 6-5 in Figure 3.

As seen in the drawing, a solid supporting structure I I is disposed atthe rear of the ball section A of the shoe. At the heel H is provided areinforcing and body shaping section l2, which also forms a gracefulcurved structure extending backward toward the-heel seat 13 of the shoe,with which the shank iron M is provided. The body portion i2 is arrangedto receive and hold the forward end of the. metal shank iron l4, beingmolded or grooved to receive the rib l5, with which this form of shankiron is provided for increasing the strength thereof. The forwardextremity of the shank iron I4 is split and spread to form a recess. Inthe body portion l2, a seat i6 is provided to house the forward end ofthe shank iron M, in line with the center of the supporting structure H.

When the shoe is finished, the tap D and wear sole B being of equalthickness, maintain the relative levels of the said heel and supportingstructure. The result of this construction is that the weight of thewearer is carried by a bridge thus formed between the heel andsupporting structure. All flexibility in the shoe will, 5 therefore, be.in that portion which is forward of the shank stifiener and of theshaper H.

The shaper l! is preferably constructed of relatively rigid leather orfiber, the purpose being to extend this shaper across the full width ofthe interior of the shoe, and to adapt the same to alteration thereof tofit varying sizes of the shoe, and support the foot of the wearer at thejunction of the plane of the insole as supported by the arch member onthe one hand, and of the 15 lower or ball section of the shoe beyond andforward of said shaper. The shaper is inclined to the longitudinal axisof the shank iron M, the one end being set back from the advancedportion of the other end, this structure resulting in an abutmentdirected toward the shank iron, which said abutment is engaged by theforward end of said iron. Extended from the shaper and forward thereofis a flexible apron H3. The apron l8 extends forward to maintain a solidstructure in the area of maximum wear of the outer or wear sole.

When the supporting structure I l and body portion thereof together withthe shank iron l4, have. been placed upon the insole E, and the fillingi9 has been adjusted thereover, the wear sole B is installed andincorporated into the shoe structure. Thereafter the supportingstructure C is secured. When these parts of the shoe construction havebeen installed, a graceful appearance is imparted to the shoe, forming arelatively short arch.

We claim:

1. A shank stiffener for shoes comprising a metal shank iron and a bodyportion in part beneath the said shank iron and in part extendingforwardly therefrom, said body portion having lateral shaper extensionsat the part thereof next the end of the shank iron which overlies thesaid I body portion and having a flexible apron at its 5 forward endbeyond said extensions and of less width than the combined dimension ofthe said extensions, said extensions having a combined dimensiontransverse to the shank iron greater than the width of the adjacent endof the shank iron and of said apron whereby said extensions may bealtered in use to fit varying widths of shoes without altering saidapron.

2. A shank stiffener for shoes comprising a metal shank iron and a bodyportion in part beneath said shank iron and in part extending forwardlytherefrom, the forwardly extending part providing one surface portionsubstantially in continuation of the shank iron, and a second surfaceportion angularly disposed with respect to and projecting forwardly fromthe first said surface portion, the second said surface portion beingflexible to respond to flexing occurring in a shoe in which mounted.

3. A shank stiffener for shoes comp-rising a metal shank iron and a bodyportion in part beneath said shank iron and in part extending forwardlytherefrom, the forwardly extending part providing one surface portionsubstantially in continuation of the shank iron, and a second surfaceportion angularly disposed with respect to and projecting forwardly fromthe first said surface portion, the second said surface portion beingflexible to respond to flexing occurring in a shoe in which mounted,both of said surface portions forward of the shank iron being of greaterwidth than the shank iron, and the first said surface portion beingwider than the second said flexible 10 surface portion.

CHARLES H. BROWN. CHARLES B. BROWN.

